Ex-cop Drew Peterson sentenced to 38 years for death of third wife

Former policeman Drew Peterson was sentenced to 38 years in jail Thursday for killing his ex-wife Kathleen Savio.

Peterson was convicted in September for his third wife’s death, which occurred in March 2004. Her body was found in a dry bathtub.

Peterson’s defense team sought a retrial under claims of ineffective counsel, but was rebuffed. Judge Edward Burmila ruled that Peterson received the “vigorous” counsel to which he was entitled.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that while Peterson chose not to testify at his trial he made several allegations of false police reports and rumors at his sentencing. At one point, he cried out, “I did not kill Kathleen!” to which one of her relatives responded, “Yes, you did!” before being ejected from the courtroom.

“The state took an accident and staged a homicide,” Peterson said.

According to CNN, her death was initially ruled as accidental. However, when Peterson’s fourth wife Stacy Peterson, disappeared in 2007, police were prompted to reinvestigate Savio’s death.